Russian spy attempted murder - what should the UK do?

Don't let us get distracted from this blatant and dangerous act by Russia. I'm feeling quite anxious about the outcome.

tompride.wordpress.com/2014/03/07/tories-desperately-try-to-hide-their-close-links-to-putin-and-his-united-russia-party/

lemongrove, I'm not suggesting the donations don't meet the regulations. However, I'm not convinced that these very large donations are made on a completely altruistic basis because they just think the Tory party is wonderful?

tompride.wordpress.com/2014/03/07/shhh-dont-tell-mi5-but-heres-a-russian-spy-with-his-good-friend-boris-johnson/

tompride.wordpress.com/2018/03/12/russia-pro-putin-pr-organisation-was-created-by-tory-party-donors-and-approved-by-david-cameron/

For all foreign business investors there will be differences from all others wanting to simply live here bmacca
There are rules about amounts of donations and checks on where money is from with all Parliamentary donations.
Three million is nothing in terms of donations.

UK grants three-year “investor” visas to foreigners who invest £1m or more in government bonds. Two years later they can buy residency for £10m as long as they have held on to the bonds. Russians were granted 433 of these visas between the third quarters of 2008 and 2013, more than any other nationality, and the numbers have continued to grow hence why they own so much of London property.
eazybee, when a govt takes nearly £3m in donations from Russians, I think it is the govt who needs to answer where allegiances lie, so a bizarre statement on Corbyn in my view

Of course Russians ( wealthy or not) have to go through the same immigration checks as anyone else.

No surprise at all eazybee his front bench all looked downcast ( as well they might!) Other Labour MP’s looked embarrassed by him. The SNP leader made a dignified few comments, and all MP’s were united for once at a time of national security.

Mr. Corbyn's response in Parliament yesterday showed very clearly where his allegiances lie; outside his own country. Very serious indeed for a party leader and a putative Prime Minister, but surely no surprise to anyone.

I do wonder how come immensely wealthy Russians have bought property in London which no one seems to live in, get passports, donate money to political parties etc - have they gone through the usual
Immigration procedures?

Thanks for the link Jen. I am posting the detail as this is one of the areas that is often used as a stick to beat the left. At least on social media we can try and have some balance and counter the smear campaign.

In October, Scrapbook reported that Tory MPs have accepted four times more money from RT than Labour MPs. At the time, we noted that the register of MP’s interests “indeed shows that Chris Williamson recently received £1000 for two appearances, while Rosie Duffield received £500 for one appearance."

Back in October, the Guido Fawkes blog reported that two Labour MPs registered paid appearances on Russia Today, accusing them of “taking Moscow gold”.
The updated register of MP’s interests can reveal that other Tory MPs have joined Kwasi Kwarteng, Mike Freer and David TC Davies in taking fees for appearing on Russia Today programmes since our last report.

Philip Davies MP was paid £500 just this month for an appearance on RT’s topical show, ‘Sam Delaney’s News Thing’

I imagine that, currently, they are all reviewing whether or not they should be appearing on RT.

... do some posters have a problem with foreigners who are now British?

I would have a problem with political parties taking money from anyone who got their money by nefarious means. If these people didn't - fine. If they did then no party should accept their money.

politicalscrapbook.net/2018/03/tory-mps-on-russia-today-part-ii-philip-davies-crispin-blunt-and-some-more-nigel-evans/

Philip Davies as well.
Must be something to do with the surname.
Crispin Blunt, now an MP, but previously a special advisor to the ministry of defence.

I think it is fairly widely acknowledged that at least some of the mega wealthy Russians who have moved to this country have questionable backgrounds. Some are enemies of Putin but that does not necessarily mean they are "good guys".

And does anyone honestly think it’s ok for an individual to be able to pay £30k to have dinner with a cabinet minister? Really?

I do have a problem with large individual donations to any political party because I always want to know why - what’s in it for them?

Sports boycotts reduce the significance of the whole event. Devaluing the World Cup would be a start.

We will soon know what measures will be put in place if the Russians don’t come up with believable answers.

May said that all donations had to come and did come from Russians who are actually now British citizens, do some posters have a problem with foreigners who are now British?

Sanctions on named individuals, including Putin, other government ministers and rich Russians with political connections. Freeze their assets, aswe have done with other countries in the past.

I think targeted sanctions are better than sports boycotts. They have their uses - like banning the Russians for drug taking - but otherwise you are cutting your nose off to spite your face. The boycott of the Olympics when it was in Russia (I think) just made us look petty mindedand several athletes lost their only chance to compete.

No Tory supporter, but some Russians over here are here because they oppose the current Russian regime and some have spent time in prison in Russia on trumped-up charges.

In the interests of National Unity then do you suppose the conservatives will refuse all party funding with Russian connections?

Certainly a total boycott of the world Cup and any other sporting event that Russia has teams in. Total clampdown on oligarchs' money and residences in UK.
Will US, China, and EU support us? I'd hope so. Russia should become an international pariah.
As Putin is making out its all a fairy story let's let good old Facebook and Twitter tell real Russian residents what's really going on. Play Russia at its own Internet tricks.
Re Jeremy Corbyn: this is a time for national unity not silly points scoring. May was dignified and spoke well.
Fingers crossed.

Or for any of these MPs.

politicalscrapbook.net/2017/10/tory-mps-have-taken-much-money-from-russia-today-than-labour-mps/

David Davis?
Kwasi Kwarteng?
Nigel Evans?
David Davies?
Andrew Mitchell?

We seem to be a bit isolated here - shame we haven’t got any allies.